Grammy Award winner LeAnn Rimes coming to St. Charles

Grammy Award winner LeAnn Rimes is in the holiday spirit these days.

Rimes recently released "ONE Christmas – Chapter 1," the first chapter of three Christmas albums Rimes plans to release over consecutive holiday seasons. Rimes will perform a holiday show Dec. 18 at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles.

The show starts at 7:30 p.m., and tickets are available by calling 888-695-0888 or by going to Arcada's website, www.oshows.com.

Kane County Chronicle reporter Eric Schelkopf had the chance to talk to Rimes about the upcoming show.

Eric Schelkopf: Great talking to you again. The last time I talked to you was in 2009, when you were part of the Mega Winterfest with Kellie Pickler at the Mega Center at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles. Of course, you are coming back to town with your own Christmas show and your new Christmas album, "ONE Christmas - Chapter 1." How long have you been thinking about making this album?

LeAnn Rimes: It actually kind of came about very quickly last year. The last Christmas album I made was 10 years ago, so I was thinking, "Hey, it's kind of time."

I didn't want it to be another 10 years before I was able to record another Christmas record. I decided that I wanted to stretch it out for the next three years.

I selfishly did it too, because I really, really love Christmas. I love all these songs, obviously. We haven't even gotten to what we will be putting on the second EP.

Schelkopf: Was it hard choosing the songs for this album? How did you go about doing that?

Rimes: Not really. Honestly, these are the first ones that popped out to me. I knew I wanted to record "I Want A Hippopotamus for Christmas."

It's my absolute favorite Christmas song. It's so fun.

It was fun to play around with songs that I've heard or listened to my whole life. A lot of it is just me and a couple of instruments. And I think there's something very sweet about that.

With "Blue Christmas," I think we really brought out the sadness of it. It runs the gambit of emotions that Christmas can conjure up for many different people. It can be a very different Christmas, depending on what your situation is.

Schelkopf: During the Arcada show, are you also going to be doing songs from throughout your career?

Rimes: I've done Christmas tours before where it is kind of half and half, my music and Christmas music. Between the last Christmas record and – now – this EP, it definitely lends itself for a full show.

We do two of my songs. Other than that, it's really all holiday music.

Schelkopf: Are you going to do "Blue?"

We do "Blue Christmas" into "Blue." It had to happen.

Schelkopf: At age 14, you became the youngest person to receive a Grammy Award. How do you think your music has evolved since then?

Rimes: I've evolved, just from a little girl into a woman, going through major life changes. I think all of that affects my music.

I think I'm a lot less fearful of what I say and what I dive into as a songwriter. I definitely open myself up more than I ever have, and I think that's where my best music comes from.

It's from within and from a place where I can relate. As a kid, it was really hard for me to relate to other situations, normal situations people were going through. I grew up on the road, which is a very odd way to grow up.

But I feel like I have a lot of grounding now. I have a lot of normalcy, which is really good for me. It allows me to connect with everybody in such a different way, and it allows me to connect to my music.

It comes from a place of humanity, more so than it ever has.

Schelkopf: What do you think of today's country music scene? Are their artists, country or otherwise, that you respect?

Rimes: You know, it definitely has changed. I feel like there was a much broader spectrum and a lot more women in country music back in the '90s.

It was definitely an easier place to break into. But I love Miranda Lambert. I think she is probably my favorite as far as country artists go.

She is willing to take risks and write true stories. The country artists I grew up on, they were these real artists writing about what they were living. You got a real connection, and they were very heartfelt stories and songs.

I feel like we have lost a lot of that. So, it's nice to see someone like Miranda who actually does that.

Schelkopf: You've done so much in your career. Do you have any dream projects or collaborations?

Rimes: One of my favorite collaborations that I wanted to do just came through. I did a duet with David Gray.

I just finished that in the studio and I absolutely love him. That will be out soon.

I'd love to do a duets record. There are so many people that I would love to work with, and I've had the chance already to work with.

There are so many things that are left to do. It will be nice that I will be winding down a little bit after this tour, and going home to create and create more music.